Next summer the third feature installment of the POKEMON trilogy will make
its way to Japanese theatres. POCKET MONSTER: THE LORD OF THE UNKNOWN TOWER
will introduce yet another of those little "pocket things" to kids and
merchandising execs around the world. Kunihiko Yuyama is set to direct the
film, which will feature a short tentatively titled POKEMON 2000. If in the
U.S. or Europe one may ask, whatever happened to POKEMON 2? Well, fear not
Charmander chums, the second POKEMON feature, which was released in Japan

As part of the International Children's Film Festival in Hyderabad, India
on November 17 - 18, 1999, 45 children ages 5 - 15 years old came together
to create a wildly imaginative, 5 minute animated short titled TOONED IN 2
DAYS. The feat was done at a 2 day workshop on animation conducted by Dr.
Neeraj's Animation Studios, the digital animation production facility of
Sriven Multi-Tech Limited. Twenty of the studio's top animators, led by
Dhimant Vyas and Rajsekhar took on the responsibility of guiding the

The Monte-Carlo Television Festival has announced the members of their
international jury for the 2nd European Television Producer Award. Guy
Fournier, the Canadian writer/producer, will preside over the seven member
jury. Guy Fournier has written some 2000 hours of television drama for
French and Canadian productions, over 150 hours of films and series for
television, plays for the theater, feature length films (FANTASTICA, UNE
AMIE D'ENFANCE) and has also published a number of books. Other jury

This month Animation World Magazine is taking a special focus on Asian
Animation, especially Japan. Kosei Ono profiles Japanese artist, Tadahito
Mochinaga, and Gigi Hu introduces us to two of Japan's leading independent
filmmakers. A group of key creative talent from Blue Sky Studios recently
toured Japan and have provided us with a scrapbook of photos and stories.
Andrew Osmond takes an indepth look at the impact Japanese animation is
having on animation made outside of Japan and we begin the first in a

A year ago, French and other European animation professionals gathered at
the third "Crossroads of the Image of the Indian Ocean" to discuss European
cartoons. At this event, financing is always a hot topic of discussion.
France is the third largest producer of animation worldwide, after the U.S.
and Japan. Production itself has greatly developed in recent years with the
proliferation of television channels. In 1988 there weren't any 26
half-hour episode series being done in Europe, now there are dozens every

Test your skills and challenge your brain with
AWN's Animation Trivia Quiz:
In which other Pixar short did the old character who repairs Woody in "Toy
Story 2," first appear? The recent release of "Pokemon: The First Movie" is
a slightly revamped version of which feature that opened in Japan in 1998?
Warner Bros.' recent release "The Iron Giant" followed on the heels of a
previous box office failure. The name of this earlier medieval fable?

Those toon titans of TOY STORY 2 crushed box office records over the
Thanksgiving weekend. The Buzz and Woody vehicle beat the 5-day non-summer
opening record set by POKEMON: THE FIRST MOVIE two weeks ago and beat A
BUG'S LIFE's record for the largest Thanksgiving weekend gross with a take
home of US$80.5 million. The sequel to the $192 million blockbuster had the
fourth biggest five-day total in history. THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH, with
primary visual effects by Digital Film, Cinesite London, and Magic Camera,

November is another packed, globe trotting issue as Animation World takes a
look at the exciting arena of animated feature films. Heikki Jokinen
reveals the health of the European feature market and its high hopes for
the future. Ilene Gannaway takes us inside the production of Sony
Imageworks' next wower, "Stuart Little." From story to technical
innovations, Ilene gives us the inside scoop on how Imageworks is turning a
CGI mouse, into one of the family. Andrew Osmond debates whether or not

In the last few years, animation has played a thrilling role in bringing
many theme park attraction 'visions' to life. Take for example the popular
Terminator 2 3D ride at Universal Studios, or the new Spiderman attraction
completed by Kleiser-Walczak Construction Company. One player in the game
of theme park animation is Iwerks Entertainment, a huge ridefilm company
whose clients include Universal Studios, Disney, and the IMAX Corporation.
Exactly 2 years ago they announced they would team up with visual effects

The Harvey Entertainment Company has partnered with Landmark Entertainment
Group to create themed attractions from Harvey's cast of classic toons. Toons like
CASPER, THE FRIENDLY GHOST, RICHIE RICH, LITTLE AUDREY, and WENDY THE GOOD
WITCH will be the spark of ingenuity behind several location-based entertainment
centers. Landmark's past film-inspired rides include STAR TREK: THE EXPERIENCE,
JURASSIC PARK: THE RIDE, and TERMINATOR 2: 3D. Tony Christopher, CEO of
Landmark Entertainment Group believes, "Families are looking for entertaining things

Venice, CA-based, Blur Studio, a leader in 3D animation, effects and
design, has spawned a new theme park and special venue division. The new venture will be
helmed by veteran ride film director Yas Takata. The new studio comes off the
heels of Blur's success with the creation of last year's METEOR ATTACK, a
custom film attraction for the Tobu Zoo Park in Tokyo, Japan co-directed by Takata and
Blur co-founder Tim Miller. The film has since been licensed by Iwerks
Entertainment to play at venues around the globe. Takata has directed

Los Angeles, California-based Iwerks Entertainment, which specializes in
high-tech entertainment systems, support services and film-based software
for Giant Screen, ride simulation and specialty venue attractions, recently
opened a sales and support office in London, England. The office, which is
located at 59 South Audley Street, will be led by John Schreiner, Vice
President, Managing Director for Europe. The company is in the midst of a
European growth period that has included the addition of Iwerks Extreme

Four hundred guests crowded the second floor theatre at the Chicago
Cultural Center, Sunday, October 24, for the 1999 Gala Awards Ceremony and
Closing Night Party of the 16th annual Chicago International Children's
Film Festival. The following awards for animated films were given out:


Children's Jury Prizes - Feature Films and Videos - Animation


1st Prize, KIRIKOU AND THE SORCERESS by Michel Ocelot (France)


2nd Prize, ANNE FRANK'S DIARY by Julian Wolff (France, Ireland, UK,
Netherlands)

November is another packed, globe trotting issue as Animation World takes a
look at the exciting arena of animated feature films. Heikki Jokinen
reveals the health of the European feature market and its high hopes for
the future. Ilene Gannaway takes us inside the production of Sony
Imageworks' next wower, "Stuart Little." From story to technical
innovations, Ilene gives us the inside scoop on how Imageworks is turning a
CGI mouse, into one of the family. Andrew Osmond debates whether or not

Warner Bros.' THE HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL, with visual effects by Hollywood,
California-based K.N.B. EFX Group, Inc., finished third at the US weekend
boxoffice with an estimated $7.8 million, for a total of $28.1 million. The
film is a remake of the 1958 William Castle horror film that starred
Vincent Price. Buena Vista's THE SIXTH SENSE, with visual effects by
DreamQuest, finished eighth, grossing $3.2 million for a total of $264.1
million. The American version of Hayao Miyazaki's PRINCESS MONONOKE, which

The Walt Disney Company and the Hong Kong SAR Government have reached an
agreement for a proposed Hong Kong Disneyland, a theme park development to
be built as the anchor of a tourism center on Lantau Island. Overlooking
the water at Penny's Bay, and on a main transit route from the new Hong
Kong International Airport, the project will make Lantau Island a
world-class tourist destination and take advantage of the location's easy
access by rail, highway and ferry to attract guests to the Park. Currently

Newly released Warner Bros.' THE HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL, with visual effects
by Hollywood, California-based K.N.B. EFX Group, Inc., topped the US
weekend boxoffice with an estimated $15.1 million. The film is a remake of
the 1958 William Castle horror film that starred Vincent Price. Buena
Vista's THE SIXTH SENSE, with visual effects by DreamQuest, finished
eighth, grossing an estimated $3.2 million for a total of $259.8 million;
and the American version of Hayao Miyazaki's PRINCESS MONONOKE, which is

Toonz Animation India, a new animation production studio and full-service
facility, will host "A Week with the Masters," which will bring the top
names in international animation pre-production together to discuss the
importance of story boarding, character design, and story development.
Among the guests will be keynote speaker Rob Coleman, Industrial Light &
Magic's Animation Supervisor on STAR WARS EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE;
producer-director-writer Derek Lamb; Ian Diamond of Cartoon Network;

As the holidays approach our minds turn to licensing and merchandising and
what is going to be on the shelves this winter. In this issue Tarleton
Gillespie takes us on a trip through Toys R Us to determine the meaning of
toys to kids. The French licensing and merchandising market is detailed by
Valerie Rivoallon. Sharon Schatz profiles toon loving Rhino Records and
Karen Raugust looks at how "Sesame Street's" content changes as the popular
show travels around the world. "Toy Wishes" predicts this year's top dozen

SEGA GAMEWORKS, a location-based entertainment venture formed by Steven
Spielberg and DreamWorks SKG, Universal Studios and Sega Enterprises, has
named leisure entertainment industry veteran, RON BENSION, as president and
CEO. As Chairman and CEO of MCA/Universal Studios Recreation Group from
1992 to 1996, Bension was responsible for running all aspects of Universal
Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Florida in addition to developing
international theme park joint ventures in the United Kingdom and Japan.